Rep. Steve Cohen Introduced Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump

Another Congressman has introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

According to CBS News, Rep. Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat, introduced five articles of impeachment against Trump on November 15, on the grounds that he believes the president violated the U.S. Constitution. Cohen was joined by five cosponsors, all of whom are also lawmakers, in introducing the articles.

The impeachment articles claim Trump obstructed justice during his firing of former FBI Director James Comey, violated the foreign emoluments clause by taking money from foreign powers, violated the domestic emoluments clause by making money off the Trump brand during his time in office, undermined federal judges by pardoning former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and undermined the freedom of the press as a result of his continuous attacks on the news media.

Despite the effort, CBS News reported that Cohen doesn't expect his attempt at impeachment to be successful, as he doesn't have widespread Congressional support. Still, he expects the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment hearings immediately, as they're reportedly compelled to do so by the introduction of the articles.

“We’re calling upon the House to begin impeachment hearings,” Cohen said, according to Politico. “It’s not a call for a vote. It’s a call for hearings.”

CBS News also noted that Cohen has attempted impeachment against Trump before. In August, he announced plans to file articles of impeachment alleging Trump violated the foreign emoluments clause, which bans government officials from accepting payments and gifts from foreign entities.

Previously...

Formal articles of impeachment were filed against President Trump on July 12 in a press conference held by Democratic representative Brad Sherman of California, in association with fellow Democratic representative Al Green of Texas. This marked the first formal legislation designed to oust the real-estate tycoon from the nation's highest office, and succeeds Green's impassioned call from the House floor for Trump's impeachment in May. Then, Green said, "The American people are a part of this democracy. This is a participatory democracy."

The articles of impeachment, HR 438, with the Resolution titled "Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors," constitutes a component of the Articles of Impeachment, or the collective array of charges that must be directed against a public official to begin the impeachment process. According to Vox, each article of an impeachment contains a charge against the president and for an article to be approved, it must garner a majority vote to pass through the House of Representatives. Next, impeachment proceedings would go to the Senate, where the chief justice of the Supreme Court would preside over the trial. To finally remove a president, at least two-thirds of senators must vote to impeach.

Sherman's filing cited Trump's use of "his authority to hinder and cause the termination" of an investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn, including "through threatening, and then terminating, James Comey."

In June, Sherman said in a statement that he had "no illusions" that the articles of impeachment would pass through the House in the near future. "But given the risk posed to the Republic, we should move things forward as quickly as possible," he continued.

Articles of impeachment need 218 votes to pass the House — an extremely unlikely outcome in the Republican-controlled chamber — and already, one House Democrat rhas eportedly denounced any impeachment bill as selfish. According to an unnamed source who spoke to The Hill, Massachusetts representative Michael Capuano reportedly advocated in a closed-door caucus meeting, for ”a discussion within the caucus — in a public forum — before we do something that would position our colleagues or our future colleagues.”

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Sherman, who represents California's 30th District, which includes San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles country, began circulating formal legislation geared toward impeaching the president in early June, and the formal articles of impeachment filed by Sherman in association with Green in July retains the same reasoning as that of Sherman's original document.

In a statement released July 12, Sherman describes two possible effects of his article. "First, I have slight hope it will inspire an ‘intervention’ in the White House. If Impeachment is real, if they actually see Articles, perhaps we will see incompetency replaced by care. Perhaps uncontrollable impulses will be controlled. And perhaps the danger our nation faces will be ameliorated."

Sherman described the second — and more likely — outcome of filing the article of impeachment in his July 12 statement as embodying the "first step on a very long road." Sherman continued, imagining a situation in which "if the impulsive incompetency continues, then eventually — many, many months from now — Republicans will join the impeachment effort."

Should the article eventually enjoy a range of support broad enough in the House to reach the Senate, it would need to attain a two-thirds majority vote. Vice President Mike Pence would then become president; Sherman said of him in his July 12 statement, "I disagree with him on just about everything. I never dreamed I would author a measure that would put him in the White House."